Gilmer Co. Sheriff Stacy Nicholson releases the following information:
On Monday, May 14, 2012, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with officers of the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources and an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office, executed a search warrant at the residence of ERNESTO SEGUI on Talona Lake Terrace in Gilmer County. The search warrant was non-drug related in nature, however, upon entry into the residence, officers located a large, elaborate indoor marijuana grow. The marijuana was being grown in the basement of the residence. Approximately 200, mostly all mature, marijuana plants were discovered with an estimated value of a half million dollars.
Shortly after entry was made into the residence, ERNESTO SEGUI returned home and was taken into custody by Gilmer deputies. The Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force was called to assist with the investigation of the marijuana and to take custody of the evidence. The investigation is ongoing in order to determine if this is an isolated incident or if it is part of a much larger network.

Sheriff Nicholson stated that “all indications are that this marijuana grow has been set up by an organized network and most probably that of a Mexican cartel. The residence was a rental home that had been rented for a year in advance. The investigation into the origin of this operation is most definitely a top priority of our investigators at this point due to the seriousness of Mexican drug cartels infiltrating rural North Georgia communities.”

At this point, ERNEST SEGUI, age 37, of Talona Lake Terrace is being held in the Gilmer County Detention Center. He is believed to be a Cuban national.